Lattice assembly, e.g. for mosaic tiles, electric circuit elements and display systems

ABSTRACT

A lattice is formed from a plurality of cell-forming elements connected by bolts to anchors. Each element has at least two connecting portions which each have at least one face abuttable with a similar face of another element and are each formed with a hole that snugly receives one of at least two projections formed on one surface of an anchor. The fastener is a bolt which passes between two two portions and overhangs them so that when screwed down it clamps the two portions to the anchor. A plurality of similar elements are similarly bolted to the other end of the anchor which is elongated and acts as a spacer in order to form a two-level lattice. Tiles, which may carry a schematic drawing of the circuitry they cover, or which may carry circuit elements, are fitted over each cell of the lattice.

United States Patent [191 Mauell [54] LATTICE ASSEMBLY, E.G. FOR

MOSAIC TILES, ELECTRIC CIRCUIT ELEMENTS AND DISPLAY SYSTEMS [76] Inventor: Helmut Mauell, Am Rosenhugel 1- 3, 5604, Neviges, Germany ['22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 205,983

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 1/1972 Schweitzer et al. ..52/581 1 June 5, 1973 2,409,484 10/1946 Gauthier ..211/26 Primary Examiner-David Smith, Jr. Attorney-Karl F. Ross [57] ABSTRACT A lattice is formed from a plurality of cell-forming ele' ments connected by bolts to anchors. Each element has at least two connecting portions which each have at least one face abuttable with a similar face of another element and are each formed with a hole that snugly receives one of at least two projections formed on one surface of an anchor. The fastener is a bolt which passes between two two portions and overhangs them so that when screwed down it clamps the two portions to the anchor. A plurality of similar elements are similarly bolted to the other end of the anchor which is elongated and acts as a spacer in order to form a two-level lattice. Tiles, which may carry a schematic drawing of the circuitry they cover, or which may carry circuit elements, are fitted over each cell of the lattice.

15 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures ggk LATTICE ASSEMBLY, E.G. FOR MOSAIC TILES, ELECTRIC CIRCUIT ELEMENTS AND DISPLAY SYSTEMS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a construction element for forming a covered latticework. More specifically'this invention concerns a lattice assembly for a control panel for electrical circuitry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Control panels often are formed on latticework with cover plates or tiles covering each opening in the lattice. These tiles carry indicia indicating the circuitry they cover or can act as mounts for switches, pilot lights, meters, and the like. It is also known to draw an overall schematic of the circuitry over a whole wall of such tiles with the specific circuit elements, junctions, and the like shown on each tile being accessible by removal of that particular tile. Such a control panel is used often in high-power electrical generation plants where a schematic traced along the surface of the tiles is interrupted by meters indicating the current or voltage at a particular diagrammatically illustrated point and by switches and similar controls to allow adjustment of the installation. In this manner it is possible to have a very clear view of exactly what is happening in the installation, while it is possible to control particular parameters simply by reference to the circuit drawn on the panel.

In one such latticework there are provided star-like elements whose arms can be connected together at their ends to form closed cells. This connection is made by passing a point through several overlapped ends so that removal of a single element requires displacement of the other two or three, and assembly is a tricky operation.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lattice assembly of the above-described general type.

Another object is the provision of such a latticework which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture and which can be assembled in a very easy manner.

Yet another object is to provide a lattice assembly which can be adapted to a plurality of shapes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects are attained according to the present invention by a lattice assembly having a plurality of rigid lattice elements each having at least two connection portions each formed with at least one lateral face adapted to abut a similar face of a similar portion on another such element. Anchors are provided having at least two spaced-apart projections snugly receivable in throughgoing holes in the portions of at least two elements to hold these two portions with their faces in laterally abutting face-to-face contact. Fasteners are removably engageable with the anchors and overlie the portions to clamp the elements against the anchor.

Thus the elements according to the present invention can have a plurality of relatively angularly fixed arms whose ends constitute the connection portions. These ends are pointed with the lateral flanks of the point bearing against similar flanks of another portion to prevent canting of any one element relative to another element. The flanks extend at to one another for fourarm elements and at for three-arm elements. Thus the flanks include angles of 45 or 60 with the centerlines of the respective bars.

In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention polygonally annular, rectangular, or triangular, elements are provided whose corners constitute the connection portions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG, 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a large-scale view of the detail indicated by arrow III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line IVIV of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, re spectively, showing a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, showing a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, showing fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 a plurality of cruciform elements 2 are used with mosaic face plates 1 to form a control panel. Each cross 2 has four arms 2a clamped with three other such arms to one end of a spacer or anchor 3 by a screw 4. The other end of the spacer 3 is similarly fastened to four crosses. In this manner a twolevel lattice is formed which is rigid and can stand with the planar elements 2 vertical. The crosses 2 on one side at least of the lattice are provided at their very cen ters with spring clips 6 having four portions 6a adapted to snap into and hold the tiles 1 in place.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show how each end 7 of each arm 2a is formed as a connecting portion for attachment of that element to one of the spacers 3. The spacers 3 are each cut from metallic, here aluminum, bars whose cruciform outlines are shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 3. Four mutually perpendicular ribs 1 l are formed each terminating in a longitudinally extending projection or tongue 9 of rectangular shape. A similarly rectangular hole 8 is formed in each end 7. In addition each end 7 is pointed with a pair of faces 10 lying at 90 to each other and at 45 to the longitudinal axis of the respective arm. A small round cutout 10a is formed at the very point of each end 7 to accommodate the fastening bolt 4. The surfaces of the faces 10 and of the cutout 10a extend at right angles to the plane of the respective element 2.

The screw 4 has a threaded shank 40 received in the spacer 3 and a head 4b overhanging the ends 7 and engaging them with its bottom surface 4c. In addition a frustoconical surface 4d is formed on the lower part of holes 8. Once the desired number of elements are in place the screw 4 is tightened down to clamp their ends 7 tightly inp place. Of course at the edge of the lattice only three or two elements will be clamped to each spacer 3, but this hardly impairs the overall strength of the arrangement.

FIG. 1 also shows how a meter M can be mounted in a tile 1 with a schematic depiction S of its connections being provided on the neighboring tiles. In addition a circuit subassembly or'rack C having a switch SW and a pilot light PL can be fitted into a cell of the lattice, a correspondingly drilled-out tile would be fitted over the cell subsequently.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an arrangement wherein rectangularly annular elements 22 are provided, each having four sides 22a and four corners 27. Bolts 24 identical to the bolts 4 hold the elements 22 down against spacers identical to those of FIGS. 1-4. The corners 27 constitu't e connecting regions and have faces 30 which lie in surface contact with the faces 30 of the adjacent element 22. In addition each spacer only has two diagonally opposite tongues 29 on its end surface which engage through the respective corners 27 to prevent them from canting. Tiles 21 are snapped over the heads of the bolts 24.

It should be noted that instead of square annular elements 22 triangular ones also could be employed.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an arrangement wherein all of the reference numerals of FIGS. 1-4 are increased by 40 and applied to similar structure, with the exception of the holes 48, tongues 49, and overall shape of the spacer 43. Each hole 48 is generally arcuate with straight and parallel longitudinally extending sides 48a and 48b and similarly curved ends 48c and 48d. The spacer 43 is formed of a metal bar which is longitudinally grooved to have four ribs 51. These ribs are formed by longitudinally machining grooves into a square-section bar, after which a round depression is formed at the end to leave four upstanding projections at the corners. Of course the threaded bore for the screw 44 is formed in the customary manner by drilling and tapping. Alternatively it is possible to make the spacers from lengths of extruded aluminum bars having the requisite shape.

Although the projections 49 do not completely fill the openings 48, they have curved surfaces that conform snugly to the surfaces 48c and 48d and sharp edges engaging the edges 48a and 48b. In this manner the projections 49 are tightly received in the bores 48 to prevent canting of the elements 42 relative to each other. In addition the end surfaces 50 of these elements 42 also abut in surface contact to further lock them in place.

The elements 42, like the elements 22 and 2, are simply stamped out of heavy-gauge sheet metal. Once an accurate die is made there should be absolutely no problem with tolerances, and since they are completely planar or flat not only is distortion improbable, but even if they are bent they can be easily restored to their proper shape.

FIG. 9 shows a plurality of elements 62 which have three arms 62a-62c extending at 120 to one another so that they form a honeycomb lattice. In all other respects these elements 62 are identical with the elements hitherto described. It should be clear that along the same lines a variety of geometricshapes can be formed, and that elements of different configuration can be combined to provide a multiplicity of lattice variations.

In FIG. 10 elements 82 and 102 are shown separated by spacers 93. These elements are arcuate and the elements 102 are somewhat smaller than the elements 82 to permit fabrication of a lattice that is curved in one or two planes, depending on whether each element is simply curved or dished. It should be clear that the curvature and the length of the spacers 93 determines the relative sizes of the elements 82 and 102.

I claim:

1. A lattice assembly comprising:

a plurality of rigid cell-forming lattice elements each having a connection portion with at least one generally planar lateral face adapted to abut a similar face of a similar portion of another such element;

a plurality of anchors each having at least two spaced-apart projections and formed between said projections with a threaded bore, each of said connection portions being formed with at least one throughgoing hole shaped to snugly receive one of said projections, said projections being arranged to fit simultaneously in the holes of two of said elements whose lateral faces are in surface-contacting relation;

a respective fastener bolt having a threaded shank received in said bore and a head engaging and overlying the respective portion to clamp same against said anchor, said faces and said projections extending generally parallel to said bolt; and

a plurality of mosaic tiles of polygonal outline each having corners releasably engaging the heads of respective bolts.

2. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said anchors each have a seating surface perpendicular to the respective fastener bolt and lateral faces, said projections extending in the same direction from said surface.

3. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein each of said elements has a plurality of arms angularly fixed relative to each other and each having an end constituting said connecting portion at a respective junction.

4. The assembly defined in claim 3 wherein each arm has a pair of said faces inclined to the longitudinal axis of the arm.

5. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein each element is substantially polygonal and has corners consti tuting said faces.

6. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein saidan chor is elongated and is provided on both ends with at least two such projections, said anchors joining two such lateral arrays in generally parallel relationship.

7. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said elements are generally flat and planar.

8. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said elements are arcuate.

9. The assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said elements are dished.

10. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein all of the portions of an element lie in a common plane.

11. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein at least some of said tiles depict electrical circuit components connected in an electric circuit.

12. The assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said elements form a lattice array forming a cellular rack, further comprising at least one electrical-circuit component received removably in said rack.

13. The assembly defined in claim 12 wherein said head is circular, said elements having concave ends complementary to the curvature of said shank and confronting same.

anchors completely surround the respective shank.

15. The assembly defined in claim 14 wherein each of said portions has a pair of such faces flanking the respective end and defining an angle of 45 or 60 with 14. The assembly defined in claim 13 wherein the 5 the centerlines of the respective element. 

1. A lattice assembly comprising: a plurality of rigid cell-forming lattice elements each having a connection portion with at least one generally planar lateral face adapted to abut a similar face of a similar portion of another such element; a plurality of anchors each having at least two spaced-apart projections and formEd between said projections with a threaded bore, each of said connection portions being formed with at least one throughgoing hole shaped to snugly receive one of said projections, said projections being arranged to fit simultaneously in the holes of two of said elements whose lateral faces are in surface-contacting relation; a respective fastener bolt having a threaded shank received in said bore and a head engaging and overlying the respective portion to clamp same against said anchor, said faces and said projections extending generally parallel to said bolt; and a plurality of mosaic tiles of polygonal outline each having corners releasably engaging the heads of respective bolts.
 2. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said anchors each have a seating surface perpendicular to the respective fastener bolt and lateral faces, said projections extending in the same direction from said surface.
 3. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein each of said elements has a plurality of arms angularly fixed relative to each other and each having an end constituting said connecting portion at a respective junction.
 4. The assembly defined in claim 3 wherein each arm has a pair of said faces inclined to the longitudinal axis of the arm.
 5. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein each element is substantially polygonal and has corners constituting said faces.
 6. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said anchor is elongated and is provided on both ends with at least two such projections, said anchors joining two such lateral arrays in generally parallel relationship.
 7. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said elements are generally flat and planar.
 8. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said elements are arcuate.
 9. The assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said elements are dished.
 10. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein all of the portions of an element lie in a common plane.
 11. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein at least some of said tiles depict electrical circuit components connected in an electric circuit.
 12. The assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said elements form a lattice array forming a cellular rack, further comprising at least one electrical-circuit component received removably in said rack.
 13. The assembly defined in claim 12 wherein said head is circular, said elements having concave ends complementary to the curvature of said shank and confronting same.
 14. The assembly defined in claim 13 wherein the said concave ends of all of the elements on each of said anchors completely surround the respective shank.
 15. The assembly defined in claim 14 wherein each of said portions has a pair of such faces flanking the respective end and defining an angle of 45* or 60* with the centerlines of the respective element. 